As I may have mentioned a thousand times before on this bloggie, I’m from Jersey. Do youse gotta prollem widat? As you can see, we have our own language. I’m from a place that has a bit of a, shall we say, reputation. We’re not exactly known as a warm and fuzzy place, and we may be perceived as a bit, well, brash, perhaps even veering into… obnoxious.

It doesn’t help that our governor is larger than life (although shrinking, post-bariatric surgery) and has attitude to spare.

Are we in a hurry? Probably. Do we have a bit of swagger in our step? I think so. But people from Jersey – in fact, people from Anywhere, USA – all want the same things out of life and, I may go out on a limb here, but hear me out: I think most people have a good heart and want to help others when they can.

A couple of weeks ago, I was receiving my monthly infusion of medication, and my nurse, Rosanne, was taking care of me. She and all the nurses and staff at the Regional Cancer Care Center in East Brunswick* have been angels to me, making me feel like part of their family. After my infusion was started, the husband of another patient stopped by to hand me a Dunkin Donuts Munchkin. “Oh, thank you,” I said, smiling, and he nodded pleasantly. A few minutes later, he returned with the box. “Go ahead,” he offered. “Take as many as you want.” I declined, but he persisted. “Go on. The nurses said we could share.” I shook my head and he stood there, really wanting me to take another donut. Finally I said, “I’m the one who brought them in!”

I think most people really want everyone to be happy.

There. I said it!

I know that “Schadenfreude” is a thing now. And that there are some people who do enjoy watching other peoples’ “fails” on YouTube.

But if given the chance, I think almost everyone will try to make a stranger’s day brighter.

Sure, if you just go by the headlines and the nightly news, you’d think most people are miscreants. But that’s just not the case. Even though the people doing the wrong thing are getting a lot of airtime, the ones Mister Rogers called “the Helpers” are out there too. They’re at the Infusion Center in the hearts and hands of the nurses, the pleasant banter of the staff, the patients encouraging each other.

I may be the only person in the world who didn’t watch “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” as a child. But recently I saw a documentary about Fred Rogers’ life, and he believed that there is always a way to find people willing to do the right thing, even during a crisis.

It doesn’t take much to be kind to someone else. Even a donut hole that you bought yourself can taste like manna when a stranger gives it back to you. And if we all agree to try it at least once a day – hold a door for a young mother at the mall, let someone onto the elevator first – maybe there will be a cumulative effect and a whole wave of kindness will overtake the world! Or, at the very least, your day will be better. It’s the opposite of “Schadenfreude.” Maybe we’ll call it “Lightenupfreude.” Could that become a thing? It’s up to you!

*This is where I receive my Tysabri for Multiple Sclerosis. Just so my friends don’t worry, I don’t have cancer, dear ones. It’s just the name of the place where I receive my infusion every month.